text: /*=============================================================================
  
    Library: CTK
  
    Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
      Division of Medical and Biological Informatics
  
    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
    you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
    You may obtain a copy of the License at
  
      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
  
    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
    WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
    See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
    limitations under the License.
  
  =============================================================================*/
  
  #ifndef CTKPLUGINCONTEXT_H_
  #define CTKPLUGINCONTEXT_H_
  
  #include <QHash>
  #include <QString>
  #include <QVariant>
  #include <QUrl>
  #include <QSharedPointer>
  #include <QFileInfo>
  
  #include "ctkPluginFramework_global.h"
  
  #include "ctkPluginEvent.h"
  #include "ctkServiceException.h"
  #include "ctkServiceReference.h"
  #include "ctkServiceRegistration.h"
  
  #include "ctkPluginFrameworkExport.h"
  
  
  // CTK class forward declarations
  class ctkPlugin;
  class ctkPluginPrivate;
  class ctkPluginContextPrivate;
  
  /**
   * \ingroup PluginFramework
   *
   * A plugin's execution context within the Framework. The context is used to
   * grant access to other methods so that this plugin can interact with the
   * Framework.
   *
   * <p>
   * <code>ctkPluginContext</code> methods allow a plugin to:
   * <ul>
   * <li>Subscribe to events published by the Framework.
   * <li>Register service objects with the Framework service registry.
   * <li>Retrieve <code>ServiceReferences</code> from the Framework service
   * registry.
   * <li>Get and release service objects for a referenced service.
   * <li>Install new plugins in the Framework.
   * <li>Get the list of plugins installed in the Framework.
   * <li>Get the {@link ctkPlugin} object for a plugin.
   * <li>Create <code>QFile</code> objects for files in a persistent storage
   * area provided for the plugin by the Framework.
   * </ul>
   *
   * <p>
   * A <code>ctkPluginContext</code> object will be created and provided to the
   * plugin associated with this context when it is started using the
   * {@link ctkPluginActivator::start} method. The same <code>ctkPluginContext</code>
   * object will be passed to the plugin associated with this context when it is
   * stopped using the {@link ctkPluginActivator::stop} method. A
   * <code>ctkPluginContext</code> object is generally for the private use of its
   * associated plugin and is not meant to be shared with other plugins in the
   * plugin environment.
   *
   * <p>
   * The <code>ctkPlugin</code> object associated with a <code>ctkPluginContext</code>
   * object is called the <em>context plugin</em>.
   *
   * <p>
   * The <code>ctkPluginContext</code> object is only valid during the execution of
   * its context plugin; that is, during the period from when the context plugin
   * is in the <code>STARTING</code>, <code>STOPPING</code>, and
   * <code>ACTIVE</code> plugin states. If the <code>ctkPluginContext</code>
   * object is used subsequently, a <code>ctkIllegalStateException</code> must be
   * thrown. The <code>ctkPluginContext</code> object must never be reused after
   * its context plugin is stopped.
   *
   * <p>
   * The Framework is the only entity that can create <code>ctkPluginContext</code>
   * objects and they are only valid within the Framework that created them.
   *
   * @remarks This class is thread safe.
   */
  class CTK_PLUGINFW_EXPORT ctkPluginContext
  {
    Q_DECLARE_PRIVATE(ctkPluginContext)
  
  public:
  
    ~ctkPluginContext();
  
    /**
     * Returns the value of the specified property. If the key is not found in
     * the Framework properties, the system properties are then searched. The
     * method returns an invalid QVariant if the property is not found.
     *
     * @param key The name of the requested property.
     * @return The value of the requested property, or an invalid QVariant if
     *         the property is undefined.
     */
    QVariant getProperty(const QString& key) const;
  
    /**
     * Returns the <code>ctkPlugin</code> object associated with this
     * <code>ctkPluginContext</code>. This plugin is called the context plugin.
     *
     * @return The <code>ctkPlugin</code> object associated with this
     *         <code>ctkPluginContext</code>.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no
     *         longer valid.
     */
    QSharedPointer<ctkPlugin> getPlugin() const;
  
    /**
     * Returns the plugin with the specified identifier.
     *
     * @param id The identifier of the plugin to retrieve.
     * @return A <code>ctkPlugin</code> object or <code>0</code> if the
     *         identifier does not match any installed plugin.
     */
    QSharedPointer<ctkPlugin> getPlugin(long id) const;
  
  
    /**
     * Returns a list of all installed plugins.
     * <p>
     * This method returns a list of all plugins installed in the plugin
     * environment at the time of the call to this method. However, since the
     * Framework is a very dynamic environment, plugins can be installed or
     * uninstalled at anytime.
     *
     * @return A QList of <code>ctkPlugin</code> objects, one object per
     *         installed plugin.
     */
    QList<QSharedPointer<ctkPlugin> > getPlugins() const;
  
    /**
     * Registers the specified service object with the specified properties
     * under the specified class names into the Framework. A
     * <code>ctkServiceRegistration</code> object is returned. The
     * <code>ctkServiceRegistration</code> object is for the private use of the
     * plugin registering the service and should not be shared with other
     * plugins. The registering plugin is defined to be the context plugin.
     * Other plugins can locate the service by using either the
     * {@link #getServiceReferences} or {@link #getServiceReference} method.
     *
     * <p>
     * A plugin can register a service object that implements the
     * {@link ctkServiceFactory} interface to have more flexibility in providing
     * service objects to other plugins.
     *
     * <p>
     * The following steps are required to register a service:
     * <ol>
     * <li>If <code>service</code> is not a <code>ctkServiceFactory</code>, an
     * <code>ctkInvalidArgumentException</code> is thrown if <code>service</code>
     * is not an instance of all the specified class names.
     * <li>The Framework adds the following service properties to the service
     * properties from the specified <code>ctkDictionary</code> (which may be
     * omitted): <br/>
     * A property named {@link ctkPluginConstants#SERVICE_ID} identifying the
     * registration number of the service <br/>
     * A property named {@link ctkPluginConstants#OBJECTCLASS} containing all the
     * specified classes. <br/>
     * Properties with these names in the specified <code>ctkDictionary</code> will
     * be ignored.
     * <li>The service is added to the Framework service registry and may now be
     * used by other plugins.
     * <li>A service event of type {@link ctkServiceEvent#REGISTERED} is fired.
     * <li>A <code>ctkServiceRegistration</code> object for this registration is
     * returned.
     * </ol>
     *
     * @param clazzes The class names under which the service can be located.
     *        The class names will be stored in the service's
     *        properties under the key {@link ctkPluginConstants#OBJECTCLASS}.
     * @param service The service object or a <code>ctkServiceFactory</code>
     *        object.
     * @param properties The properties for this service. The keys in the
     *        properties object must all be <code>QString</code> objects. See
     *        {@link ctkPluginConstants} for a list of standard service property keys.
     *        Changes should not be made to this object after calling this
     *        method. To update the service's properties the
     *        {@link ctkServiceRegistration::setProperties} method must be called.
     *        The set of properties may be omitted if the service has
     *        no properties.
     * @return A <code>ctkServiceRegistration</code> object for use by the plugin
     *         registering the service to update the service's properties or to
     *         unregister the service.
     * @throws ctkInvalidArgumentException If one of the following is true:
     *         <ul>
     *         <li><code>service</code> is <code>0</code>. <li><code>service
     *         </code> is not a <code>ctkServiceFactory</code> object and is not an
     *         instance of all the named classes in <code>clazzes</code>. <li>
     *         <code>properties</code> contains case variants of the same key
     *         name.
     *         </ul>
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     * @see ctkServiceRegistration
     * @see ctkServiceFactory
     */
    ctkServiceRegistration registerService(const QStringList& clazzes, QObject* service, const ctkDictionary& properties = ctkDictionary());
  
    /**
     * Registers the specified service object with the specified properties
     * under the specified class name with the Framework.
     *
     * <p>
     * This method is otherwise identical to
     * registerService(const QStringList&, QObject*, const ctkDictionary&) and is provided as
     * a convenience when <code>service</code> will only be registered under a single
     * class name. Note that even in this case the value of the service's
     * ctkPluginConstants::OBJECTCLASS property will be a QStringList, rather
     * than just a single string.
     *
     * @param clazz The class name under which the service can be located.
     * @param service The service object or a ctkServiceFactory object.
     * @param properties The properties for this service.
     * @return A ctkServiceRegistration object for use by the plugin
     *         registering the service to update the service's properties or to
     *         unregister the service.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     * @see registerService(const QStringList&, QObject*, const ctkDictionary&)
     */
    ctkServiceRegistration registerService(const char* clazz, QObject* service, const ctkDictionary& properties = ctkDictionary());
  
    template<class S>
    ctkServiceRegistration registerService(QObject* service, const ctkDictionary& properties = ctkDictionary())
    {
      const char* clazz = qobject_interface_iid<S*>();
      if (clazz == 0)
      {
        throw ctkServiceException(QString("The interface class you are registering your service %1 against has no Q_DECLARE_INTERFACE macro")
                                  .arg(service->metaObject()->className()));
      }
      return registerService(clazz, service, properties);
    }
  
    /**
     * Returns a list of <code>ctkServiceReference</code> objects. The returned
     * list contains services that
     * were registered under the specified class and match the specified filter
     * expression.
     *
     * <p>
     * The list is valid at the time of the call to this method. However since
     * the Framework is a very dynamic environment, services can be modified or
     * unregistered at any time.
     *
     * <p>
     * The specified <code>filter</code> expression is used to select the
     * registered services whose service properties contain keys and values
     * which satisfy the filter expression. See {@link ctkLDAPSearchFilter} for a description
     * of the filter syntax. If the specified <code>filter</code> is
     * empty, all registered services are considered to match the
     * filter. If the specified <code>filter</code> expression cannot be parsed,
     * an <code>ctkInvalidArgumentException</code> will be thrown with a human readable
     * message where the filter became unparsable.
     *
     * <p>
     * The result is a list of <code>ctkServiceReference</code> objects for all
     * services that meet all of the following conditions:
     * <ul>
     * <li>If the specified class name, <code>clazz</code>, is not
     * empty, the service must have been registered with the
     * specified class name. The complete list of class names with which a
     * service was registered is available from the service's
     * {@link ctkPluginConstants::OBJECTCLASS objectClass} property.
     * <li>If the specified <code>filter</code> is not empty, the
     * filter expression must match the service.
     * </ul>
     *
     * @param clazz The class name with which the service was registered or
     *        an empty string for all services.
     * @param filter The filter expression or empty for all
     *        services.
     * @return A list of <code>ctkServiceReference</code> objects or
     *         an empty list if no services are registered which satisfy the
     *         search.
     * @throws ctkInvalidArgumentException If the specified <code>filter</code>
     *         contains an invalid filter expression that cannot be parsed.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     */
    QList<ctkServiceReference> getServiceReferences(const QString& clazz, const QString& filter = QString());
  
    /**
     * Returns a list of <code>ctkServiceReference</code> objects. The returned
     * list contains services that
     * were registered under the Qt interface id of the template argument <code>S</code>
     * and match the specified filter expression.
     *
     * <p>
     * This method is identical to getServiceReferences(const QString&, const QString&) except that
     * the class name for the service object is automatically deduced from the template argument.
     *
     * @param filter The filter expression or empty for all
     *        services.
     * @return A list of <code>ctkServiceReference</code> objects or
     *         an empty list if no services are registered which satisfy the
     *         search.
     * @throws ctkInvalidArgumentException If the specified <code>filter</code>
     *         contains an invalid filter expression that cannot be parsed.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     * @see getServiceReferences(const QString&, const QString&)
     */
    template<class S>
    QList<ctkServiceReference> getServiceReferences(const QString& filter = QString())
    {
      const char* clazz = qobject_interface_iid<S*>();
      if (clazz == 0) throw ctkServiceException("The service interface class has no Q_DECLARE_INTERFACE macro");
      return getServiceReferences(QString(clazz), filter);
    }
  
    /**
     * Returns a <code>ctkServiceReference</code> object for a service that
     * implements and was registered under the specified class.
     *
     * <p>
     * The returned <code>ctkServiceReference</code> object is valid at the time of
     * the call to this method. However as the Framework is a very dynamic
     * environment, services can be modified or unregistered at any time.
     *
     * <p>
     * This method is the same as calling
     * {@link ctkPluginContext::getServiceReferences(const QString&, const QString&)} with an
     * empty filter expression. It is provided as a convenience for
     * when the caller is interested in any service that implements the
     * specified class.
     * <p>
     * If multiple such services exist, the service with the highest ranking (as
     * specified in its {@link ctkPluginConstants::SERVICE_RANKING} property) is returned.
     * <p>
     * If there is a tie in ranking, the service with the lowest service ID (as
     * specified in its {@link ctkPluginConstants::SERVICE_ID} property); that is, the
     * service that was registered first is returned.
     *
     * @param clazz The class name with which the service was registered.
     * @return A <code>ctkServiceReference</code> object, or <code>0</code> if
     *         no services are registered which implement the named class.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     * @throws ctkServiceException It no service was registered under the given class name.
     * @see #getServiceReferences(const QString&, const QString&)
     */
    ctkServiceReference getServiceReference(const QString& clazz);
  
    /**
     * Returns a <code>ctkServiceReference</code> object for a service that
     * implements and was registered under the specified template class argument.
     *
     * <p>
     * This method is identical to getServiceReference(const QString&) except that
     * the class name for the service object is automatically deduced from the template argument.
     *
     * @return A <code>ctkServiceReference</code> object, or <code>0</code> if
     *         no services are registered which implement the named class.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     * @throws ctkServiceException It no service was registered under the given class name.
     * @see #getServiceReference(const QString&)
     * @see #getServiceReferences(const QString&)
     */
    template<class S>
    ctkServiceReference getServiceReference()
    {
      const char* clazz = qobject_interface_iid<S*>();
      if (clazz == 0) throw ctkServiceException("The service interface class has no Q_DECLARE_INTERFACE macro");
      return getServiceReference(QString(clazz));
    }
  
    /**
     * Returns the service object referenced by the specified
     * <code>ctkServiceReference</code> object.
     * <p>
     * A plugin's use of a service is tracked by the plugin's use count of that
     * service. Each time a service's service object is returned by
     * {@link #getService(const ctkServiceReference&)} the context plugin's use count for
     * that service is incremented by one. Each time the service is released by
     * {@link #ungetService(const ctkServiceReference&)} the context plugin's use count
     * for that service is decremented by one.
     * <p>
     * When a plugin's use count for a service drops to zero, the plugin should
     * no longer use that service.
     *
     * <p>
     * This method will always return <code>0</code> when the service
     * associated with this <code>reference</code> has been unregistered.
     *
     * <p>
     * The following steps are required to get the service object:
     * <ol>
     * <li>If the service has been unregistered, <code>0</code> is returned.
     * <li>The context plugin's use count for this service is incremented by
     * one.
     * <li>If the context plugin's use count for the service is currently one
     * and the service was registered with an object implementing the
     * <code>ctkServiceFactory</code> interface, the
     * {@link ctkServiceFactory::getService} method is
     * called to create a service object for the context plugin. This service
     * object is cached by the Framework. While the context plugin's use count
     * for the service is greater than zero, subsequent calls to get the
     * services's service object for the context plugin will return the cached
     * service object. <br>
     * If the service object returned by the <code>ctkServiceFactory</code> object
     * is not an instance of all the classes named when the service
     * was registered or the <code>ctkServiceFactory</code> object throws an
     * exception, <code>0</code> is returned and a Framework event of type
     * {@link ctkPluginFrameworkEvent::PLUGIN_ERROR} containing a {@link ctkServiceException}
     * describing the error is fired.
     * <li>The service object for the service is returned.
     * </ol>
     *
     * @param reference A reference to the service.
     * @return A service object for the service associated with
     *         <code>reference</code> or <code>0</code> if the service is not
     *         registered, the service object returned by a
     *         <code>ctkServiceFactory</code> does not implement the classes under
     *         which it was registered or the <code>ctkServiceFactory</code> threw
     *         an exception.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no
     *         longer valid.
     * @throws ctkInvalidArgumentException If the specified
     *         <code>ctkServiceReference</code> was not created by the same
     *         framework instance as this <code>ctkPluginContext</code> or
     *         if it is invalid (default constructed).
     * @see #ungetService(const ctkServiceReference&)
     * @see ctkServiceFactory
     */
    QObject* getService(const ctkServiceReference& reference);
  
    /**
     * Returns the service object referenced by the specified
     * <code>ctkServiceReference</code> object.
     * <p>
     * This is a convenience method which is identical to QObject* getService(ctkServiceReference)
     * except that it casts the service object to the supplied template argument type
     *
     * @return A service object for the service associated with
     *         <code>reference</code> or <code>0</code> if the service is not
     *         registered, the service object returned by a
     *         <code>ctkServiceFactory</code> does not implement the classes under
     *         which it was registered, the <code>ctkServiceFactory</code> threw
     *         an exception or the service could not be casted to the desired type.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no
     *         longer valid.
     * @throws ctkInvalidArgumentException If the specified
     *         <code>ctkServiceReference</code> was not created by the same
     *         framework instance as this <code>ctkPluginContext</code> or
     *         if it is invalid (default constructed).
     * @see #getService(const ctkServiceReference&)
     * @see #ungetService(const ctkServiceReference&)
     * @see ctkServiceFactory
     */
    template<class S>
    S* getService(const ctkServiceReference& reference)
    {
      return qobject_cast<S*>(getService(reference));
    }
  
    /**
     * Releases the service object referenced by the specified
     * <code>ctkServiceReference</code> object. If the context plugin's use count
     * for the service is zero, this method returns <code>false</code>.
     * Otherwise, the context plugins's use count for the service is decremented
     * by one.
     *
     * <p>
     * The service's service object should no longer be used and all references
     * to it should be destroyed when a bundle's use count for the service drops
     * to zero.
     *
     * <p>
     * The following steps are required to unget the service object:
     * <ol>
     * <li>If the context plugin's use count for the service is zero or the
     * service has been unregistered, <code>false</code> is returned.
     * <li>The context plugin's use count for this service is decremented by
     * one.
     * <li>If the context plugin's use count for the service is currently zero
     * and the service was registered with a <code>ctkServiceFactory</code> object,
     * the
     * {@link ctkServiceFactory#ungetService}
     * method is called to release the service object for the context plugin.
     * <li><code>true</code> is returned.
     * </ol>
     *
     * @param reference A reference to the service to be released.
     * @return <code>false</code> if the context plugin's use count for the
     *         service is zero or if the service has been unregistered;
     *         <code>true</code> otherwise.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no
     *         longer valid.
     * @throws ctkInvalidArgumentException If the specified
     *         <code>ctkServiceReference</code> was not created by the same
     *         framework instance as this <code>ctkPluginContext</code>.
     * @see #getService
     * @see ctkServiceFactory
     */
    bool ungetService(const ctkServiceReference& reference);
  
    /**
     * Creates a <code>QFileInfo</code> object for a file or directoryin the
     * persistent storage area provided for the plugin by the Framework.
     *
     * <p>
     * A <code>QFileInfo</code> object for the base directory of the persistent
     * storage area provided for the context plugin by the Framework can be
     * obtained by calling this method with an empty string as
     * <code>filename</code>.
     *
     * <p>
     * If the permissions are enabled, the Framework will
     * ensure that the plugin has the <code>ctkFilePermission</code> with
     * actions <code>read</code>,<code>write</code>,<code>delete</code>
     * for all files (recursively) in the persistent storage area provided for
     * the context plugin.
     *
     * @param filename A relative name to the file or directory to be accessed.
     * @return A <code>QFileInfo</code> object that represents the requested file
     *         or directory.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     */
    QFileInfo getDataFile(const QString& filename);
  
    /**
     * Installs a plugin from the specified <code>QIODevice</code> object.
     *
     * <p>
     * If the specified <code>QIODevice</code> is <code>null</code>, the
     * Framework must create the <code>QIODevice</code> from which to read the
     * plugin by interpreting, in an implementation dependent manner, the
     * specified <code>location</code>.
     *
     * <p>
     * The specified <code>location</code> identifier will be used as the
     * identity of the plugin. Every installed plugin is uniquely identified by
     * its location identifier which is typically in the form of a URL.
     *
     * <p>
     * The following steps are required to install a plugin:
     * <ol>
     * <li>If a plugin containing the same location identifier is already
     * installed, the <code>ctkPlugin</code> object for that plugin is returned.
     *
     * <li>The plugin's content is read from the input stream. If this fails, a
     * {@link ctkPluginException} is thrown.
     *
     * <li>The plugin's associated resources are allocated. The associated
     * resources minimally consist of a unique identifier and a persistent
     * storage area. If this step fails, a <code>ctkPluginException</code>
     * is thrown.
     *
     * <li>The plugin's state is set to <code>INSTALLED</code>.
     *
     * <li>A plugin event of type {@link ctkPluginEvent#INSTALLED} is fired.
     *
     * <li>The <code>ctkPlugin</code> object for the newly or previously installed
     * plugin is returned.
     * </ol>
     *
     * <b>Postconditions, no exceptions thrown </b>
     * <ul>
     * <li><code>getState()</code> in &#123; <code>INSTALLED</code>,
     * <code>RESOLVED</code> &#125;.
     * <li>Plugin has a unique ID.
     * </ul>
     * <b>Postconditions, when an exception is thrown </b>
     * <ul>
     * <li>Plugin is not installed and no trace of the plugin exists.
     * </ul>
     *
     * @param location The location identifier of the plugin to install.
     * @param input The <code>QIODevice</code> object from which this plugin
     *        will be read or <code>null</code> to indicate the Framework must
     *        create the I/O device from the specified location identifier.
     *        The I/O device must always be closed when this method completes,
     *        even if an exception is thrown.
     * @return The <code>ctkPlugin</code> object of the installed plugin.
     * @throws ctkPluginException If the I/O device cannot be read or the
     *         installation failed.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     */
    QSharedPointer<ctkPlugin> installPlugin(const QUrl& location, QIODevice* input = 0);
  
    /**
     * Connects the specified <code>slot</code> to the context
     * plugins's signal which is emitted when a plugin has
     * a lifecycle state change. The signature of the slot
     * must be "slotName(ctkPluginEvent)".
     *
     * @param receiver The object to connect to.
     * @param slot The slot to be connected.
     * @param type The Qt connection type. Only Qt::DirectConnection,
     *        Qt::QueuedConnection, or Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection is allowed.
     * @returns <code>true</code> if the connection was successfull;
     *          <code>false</code> otherwise.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no
     *         longer valid.
     * @see ctkPluginEvent
     * @see ctkEventBus
     */
    bool connectPluginListener(const QObject* receiver, const char* slot, Qt::ConnectionType type = Qt::QueuedConnection);
  
    /**
     * Disconnects the specified <code>slot</code> from the context
     * plugin.
     *
     * <p>
     * If <code>slot</code> is not connected to the context plugin,
     * this method does nothing.
     *
     * @param receiver The object which has previously connected <code>slot</code>.
     * @param slot The Qt slot to be disconnected. If <code>NULL</code>, all slots
     *        previously connected via connectPluginListener are disconnected.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     */
    void disconnectPluginListener(const QObject* receiver, const char* slot = 0);
  
    /**
     * Connects the specified <code>slot</code> to the context
     * plugin's signal which emits general Framework events. The signature
     * of the slot must be "slotName(ctkPluginFrameworkEvent)".
     *
     * @param receiver The object to connect to.
     * @param slot The slot to be connected.
     * @param type The Qt connection type.
     * @returns <code>true</code> if the connection was successfull;
     *          <code>false</code> otherwise.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no
     *         longer valid.
     * @see ctkPluginFrameworkEvent
     * @see ctkEventBus
     */
    bool connectFrameworkListener(const QObject* receiver, const char* slot, Qt::ConnectionType type = Qt::QueuedConnection);
  
    /**
     * Disconnects the specified <code>slot</slot> from the context
     * plugin.
     *
     * <p>
     * If <code>slot</code> is not connected to the context plugin,
     * this method does nothing.
     *
     * @param receiver The object which has previously connected <code>slot</code>.
     * @param slot The Qt slot to be disconnected. If <code>NULL</code>, all slots
     *        previously connected via connectFrameworkListener are disconnected.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no longer valid.
     */
    void disconnectFrameworkListener(const QObject* receiver, const char* slot = 0);
  
    /**
     * Connects the specified <code>slot</code> with the
     * specified <code>filter</code> to the context plugins's signal emitting
     * service events when a service has a lifecycle state change. The signature
     * of the slot must be "slotName(const ctkServiceEvent&)", but only the name
     * of the slot must be provided as the argument.
     * See {@link ctkLDAPSearchFilter} for a description of
     * the filter syntax.
     *
     * <p>
     * If the object to connect to is destroyed, the slot is automatically
     * disconnected. To explicitly disconnect the slot, use
     * disconnectServiceListener().
     *
     * <p>
     * If the context plugin's list of listeners already contains the same
     * slot for the given receiver, then this
     * method replaces that slot's filter (which may be <code>null</code>)
     * with the specified one (which may be <code>null</code>).
     *
     * <p>
     * The slot is called if the filter criteria is met. To filter based
     * upon the class of the service, the filter should reference the
     * {@link ctkPluginConstants#OBJECTCLASS} property. If <code>filter</code> is
     * <code>null</code>, all services are considered to match the filter.
     *
     * <p>
     * When using a <code>filter</code>, it is possible that the
     * <code>ctkServiceEvent</code>s for the complete lifecycle of a service
     * will not be delivered to the slot. For example, if the
     * <code>filter</code> only matches when the property <code>x</code> has
     * the value <code>1</code>, the listener will not be called if the
     * service is registered with the property <code>x</code> not set to the
     * value <code>1</code>. Subsequently, when the service is modified
     * setting property <code>x</code> to the value <code>1</code>, the
     * filter will match and the slot will be called with a
     * <code>ServiceEvent</code> of type <code>MODIFIED</code>. Thus, the
     * slot will not be called with a <code>ServiceEvent</code> of type
     * <code>REGISTERED</code>.
     *
     * @param receiver The object to connect to.
     * @param slot The name of the slot to be connected.
     * @param filter The filter criteria.
     * @throws ctkInvalidArgumentException If <code>filter</code> contains an
     *         invalid filter string that cannot be parsed.
     * @throws ctkIllegalStateException If this ctkPluginContext is no
     *         longer valid.
     * @see ctkServiceEvent
     * @see disconnectServiceListener()
     * @see ctkEventBus
     */
    void connectServiceListener(QObject* receiver, const char* slot,
                                const QString& filter = QString());
  
    /**
     * Disconnects a slot which has been previously connected
     * with a call to connectServiceListener().
     *
     * @param receiver The object containing the slot.
     * @param slot The slot to be disconnected.
     * @see connectServiceListener()
     */
    void disconnectServiceListener(QObject* receiver, const char* slot);
  
  protected:
  
    friend class ctkPluginFrameworkPrivate;
    friend class ctkPlugin;
    friend class ctkPluginPrivate;
  
    ctkPluginContext(ctkPluginPrivate* plugin);
  
    ctkPluginContextPrivate * const d_ptr;
  };
  
  
  #endif /* CTKPLUGINCONTEXT_H_ */
  